Easy family walks and enjoyable pub food in the Lake District

Windermere’s west shoreline

Today we caught the ferry from Bowness on Windermere across to Claife Heights. We took a go kart, scooter and a bike, plus three kids aged 3, 5 and 6. After parking in the National Trust Harrowslack car park, at GR 388960 on OS map OL7, we headed northwards along the lake shore.

It’s a lovely and picturesque part of the Lake District, much quieter than the eastern shores near Bowness. There are plenty of little beach areas to have fun and stop for picnics.

For about a mile the path/road is smoothly tarmac’d. And there are only a few cars on this quiet stretch of road, making it ideal for riding bikes, scooters and newly acquired birthday go karts! The road surface also makes this section of the shoreline accessible for prams and pushchairs.

We rode all the way up to the gate at GR 387970. At this point the smooth tarmac gives way to gravely path, which wasn’t as suited to our wheels! So we turned round and rode all the way back to the Claife Heights viewing station cafe for a well deserved ice cream.

If you have the stamina and wanted to continue, Wray Castle is a further 3 mile ride northwards along the gravelly track.

After refuelling, the kids went for a play in the viewing station itself. More info can be found here on the viewing station, as we’ve previously visited en route to Far Sawry.

The total distance was approx 2 miles, but would obviously be a lot longer if you made a day of it and visited Wray Castle too.